William Findlay (June 20, 1768 – November 12, 1846) was an American farmer, lawyer, and politician.

A member of the Democratic-Republican Party, he served as the fourth governor of Pennsylvania from 1817 to 1820,[1] and as a United States senator from 1821 to 1827.

All became politicians, serving at national, state and local levels in Pennsylvania and Ohio in the early federal years.

According to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, in 1817 he emancipated the one slave he held and stated, "The principles of slavery are repugnant to those of justice."

He also asked state legislators to pass laws to severely punish slave catchers who attempted to capture Africans in Pennsylvania and enslave them.

He directed many of the functions of state government from his private home while the new capitol building was under construction.

He was filling the vacancy in the term commencing March 4, 1821, because the legislature had failed to select a candidate on time.

[5] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, significant in part because of the political careers of the three brothers.

Nancy Irwin Findlay died on July 27, 1824, and is buried in Harrisburg Cemetery.

He was the assistant professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology at West Point from August 29 until November 4, 1824, of geography, history, and ethics until April 17, 1825, and was on topographical duty until May 13, 1828, when he resigned.